Trans-Canada Tunnel Pieces

I was recently invited by HeWhoCannotBeNamed (S.O. of TheGiftedTypist ) to see some beautiful graffiti in a tunnel under the Trans-Canada Highway near New Glasgow. On a dead end road, the tunnel is little used, and therefore allows undisturbed time to put up large pieces.

Pieces - Large and labor-intensive graffiti painting. often incorporate 3-D effects, arrows, and many colors and color-transitions, as well as various other effects. Originally shorthand for masterpiece, considered the full and most beautiful work of graffiti. A piece requires more time to paint than a throw-up. Piece can also be used as a verb that means: "to write".

As PAX says in one piece – “To whom it may concern: I come here for my daughters, parents, friends. I write for my Cru: ZORA, PUZO, PEZ, WELLU and all the others. I write for those of you that like to come here. This is where we come to evolve. This place is for the people. This is where we come to be free. The one and only PAX of AOD” (Army of Darkness)

The area is dynamic, with go-overs happening regularly. Sadly, much of the work has been slashed recently, although the beauty of most of the work still shines through. I will try return to the area in warmer weather next year, and see what has evolved. For now though, you can enjoy the spectacular art above, without having to brave the cold, windy tunnel.

VA Mystery Solved

As has been pointed out previously – the prolific VA has several styles of tag – some linear, some curvaceous, some with flair, and some with particular decorations – underlines, dots or exclamation marks. Closer inspection reveals 8 distinctly different VA tags that I’ve seen around town. Then this piece was seen – “Visual Asassin’s (sic) Crew” Visual Asassin’s=VA



Coincidence? – I think not – Is VA a crew with multiple members? – The sheer number of tags around and the variety of styles suggest that the answer is yes.

Mystery solved? - definitely maybe!

Merry Rainbow Six Vegas Christmas

Hey it's Christmas - a day to be enjoyed with family - and what better way than with my son, on the XBOX360, collecting ingame graffiti (interrupted occasionally by the need to terminate some bad guys). Something about moving around the photorealistic environment, with my son, guns in hand, our real faces mapped onto our ingame characters - does it get any better than this? (It does of course, but my son won't be involved in those activities) ;)



So Merry Christmas to all! (the 4 or 5 of you who frequent this blog) - I truly wish you "a low-carbon, fair-traded, cruelty-free one, so far as is reasonably practicable" - although if we meet you ingame - lead poisoning may be a distinct risk...

Stencilling

In contrast to the freehand tags and throw-ups that are so common, some people do most of their work in private - carefully cutting out a stencil, sometimes simple, sometimes detailed. I suppose that this allows quicker execution of the graffiti in the field, without the need for as much illumination.

Interestingly (to me anyway), a technique that would seem to lend itself to mass production of tags is not used in this way - I have rarely seen stencilling repeated (with the exception of 'THINK" backwards, which is not uncommon. Stencilling also lends itself to commentary, and is used sometimes for this purpose.

Given my own (admittedly limited) artistic abilities - if I felt the need to spraypaint my existence somewhere - a stencil - perfected in private, promptly painted in the dark, would be my likely point of entry.

VA

The tag VA can be found all over Halifax without looking too hard. In four or five graffiti photographing walks (TagBagging) I’ve collected more than 50 examples of this distinctive Tag. Not only is (s)he prolific, but (s)he is one of the few taggers who works in various styles – a traditionally written VA, an outline style VA, a throw-up here and there tagged VA. A veritable renaissance (wo)man among graffiti artists. The Tag VA is made up of 3 bold confident lines, seemingly put up without hurry – of course who needs to worry when you only have 2 letters to paint, as opposed to a more complex Tag. Unlike many other VA usually respects personal private property – a few exceptions around the corners of Windsor and Cunard excepted.

Among the handfull of pieces that I would consider at some level as being ‘Art’ ; VA is over-represented.


VA clearly knows HEUG – their Tags often co-exist, occasionally in an identical rare colour. Could they be the same person? – Who knows? VA is linear, HEUG much loopier, but obviously this could be a product of the message, rather than the messenger.

As you move around the city keep your eyes open. As I have, you may find yourself thinking more and more about V eh?

As "TheGiftedTypist' commented, VA has two styles, one bolder, one softer, and sure enough, my daughter spotted this distintly feminine VA at the corner of Queen St. and Spring Garden Rd.

Graffiti=Vandalism

Sometimes however, tags are just slapped up helter skelter, on houses, doors windows etc...(Graffiti is not called 'throw-ups' for nothing). Perhaps a form of "Kilroy was here", but in this case, more accurately "dickweed was here" as a certain wise psychiatrist would say. The best solution is a fast coat of fresh paint.



The opinion of the Halifax Regional Police Force is clear:
Graffiti=Vandalism

Graffiti=Art?

On occasion, even the mundane can be elevated above its apparent place. All that may be required is a fresh perspective on what surrounds us every day. A splash of colour, a flash of light, an open mind, and the ordinary can be tranformed. The graffiti that fills our public space is sometimes (usually) an eyesore, but under the right circumstances can be seen in a new way.



Ordinary becomes Extraordinary
Graffiti becomes Art

The Halifax Commons Skatepark late October 2006

What goes together better than Graffiti&Sk8trBoyz/Grrrlz (other than say Rum&Coke or Sex,Drugs,Rock&Roll)? So what better place to find lots of graffiti and Tags than at Halifax Skatepark near the Commons. Sure enough the older portion of the area is covered with graffiti, and some enterprising Taggers have gotten a headstart on the still fenced off, still under construction expansion.

Overall (given the context of a Skatepark) the effect is quite artistic - a jumble of styles, colours and materials melding into de facto installation art on the Commons.

The usual suspects (YOOPZ, HEUG and VA) are present and accounted for; as are literally hundreds of others

It will be interesting to revisit and follow the progress on the fresh canvas that the expansion represents (short of hoardings at building sites - the most 'socially acceptable' location to tag in the city)

Hoarding at Lieutenant Governor's Residence

What better place for graffiti than a hoarding? A fresh, blank (temporary) canvas beckons. And sure enough, the hoarding on Barrington Street at the Lieutenant Governor's residence is no exception. Lots of examples of graffiti - tags in many styles, slogans, and a stencilled gnome. The ubiquitous (around Halifax anyway) "YOOPZ" tag is represented (more on this another day)

Half the hoarding came down this week, taking its scribblings with it to the ?dump, but it lives on here (for now)

A Starting Point

We all see it as we move through our cities - graffiti - spray painted, scrawled, scratched into the surfaces we live with every day. Halifax is no different, except that the targets of the graffiti seems to be objects (mailboxes, power transformers) rather than walls and buildings. Most of the graffiti seen in Halifax are "tags".

According to the Wikipedia a "A 'tag' is the most basic writing of an artist's name in either spray paint or marker. 'Tagging' is often the example given when opponents of graffiti refer to vandalism, as the artistic form is lacking and style of penmanship is highlighted more."

This Blog will document my (our) exploration of Tags and Tagging around Halifax, using photos, linking to Flickr sets and Mapping software.

Railcut - Prince Arthur Rd

Under the Prince Arthur Rail Rd Bridge-Currently


Gone, and maybe forgotten

Quinpool Rail Bridge

Under the Quinpool Rail Bridge-Currently


Blasts from the Past

BC Silver School

BC Silver School, is an abandoned public school in Spryfield, which is covered in ever changing graffiti. It is due to be torn down sometime soon - so make sure you see it while it is still standing.

Current



Past

The Pit

The Pit is the 'Legal' wall surrounding the parking lot at Water and Morris Streets. An amazing amount of great graffiti goes up here on a regular basis. Here's what's currently up, and blasts from the (recent) past.

Current



The Past

FOES Gallery

ENDER

FYPT Gallery

SAME Gallery

ADICT Gallery

SHUK Gallery

AP3R Gallery

SLUG Gallery

Dartmouth Cove

Currently:


Past

Railcut - Tower Road

Young Ave


Tower Road

Railcut - Young Avenue

Young Ave


Tower Road

Jubilee Road Rail Bridge

Here's what's up and a look at the past under the Jubilee Rail Bridge

Current


Past

Coburg Rail Bridge Gallery

Here's what's up and a look at the past under the Coburg Rail Bridge

Current


Past